Feb. 10, 2023 “I wasn’t letting him go. We were getting him out. 100%. He was coming home,” Houston Senior Capt. Joseph Flores said.
Source Firehouse.com News
A Houston firefighter who fell through a burning roof at a house fire last weekend owes his life to his captain.
Firefighter Donovan Apiag, 26, and others were preparing to leave the roof after ventilating when it gave way under him and he fell through, KHOU reported.
Senior Captain Joseph Flores gets emotional when he recalls what happened.
“To look down in that hole, It was just a sea of red. That’s all… it was just a sea of red and just super-hot.”
Flores and another firefighter reached in to grab their brother who had fallen through to the attic.
“I wasn’t letting him go. We were getting him out. 100%. He was coming home,” he said
Apiag suffered second and third-degree burns including to his legs, lower back, feet, and hands. He was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital in the Medical Center.
He has a long road to recovery and has already had one surgery.
“Occupational therapy, physical therapy, and then the mental side of it too. He’s tough. I am in utter amazement by him,” Flores said.
The captain sustained a burned hand during the rescue.
“It’s called a brotherhood and sisterhood… it’s true. And the citizens of Houston just absolutely are our support when it comes to times like this. Community support has been amazing. Amazing,” he told the reporter.